Mallet, stone laying ceremony, Sunday School, Penryn Wesleyan Church, MRF/1176 copyright of Kresen Kernow
a brief History of the school room
The School Room is located behind the Penryn Methodist Church, a Grade II Listed building in Penryn Town Centre. Construction on the Church and School Room began in 1891 and the buildings were opened on 14 February 1893.
Architect: Mr. J. W. Trounson, P.K.I. B.A..F S.I., of Penzance
Contractor: Mr. Carkeek, of Redruth
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as a Sunday School. Since the Sunday School’s closure, the building has been used by the Church for functions and by local organisations for community activities.
“At the rear we find a convenient two-storey building which comprises on the ground floor an institute room and four large classrooms and a schoolroom, 63 feet by 24 feet, over, with every convenience for teas and similar gatherings. The foundation stones were laid about twelve months since, and the contractor, Mr. Carkeek, of Redruth, deserves praise not only for the promptness, but also for the care he has exercised in carrying out the excellent designs of the architect, Mr. J. W. Trounson, P.K.I. B.A..F S.I., of Penzance.”
- Royal Cornwall Gazette – Thursday 23 February 1893
Image from 1907 OS Map, Kresen Kernow archive.
past ACTIVITIES in the school ROOM :
sunday school
Meetings first noted the move to the new Sunday School from 1893.
Led by nominated officers, the Sunday School had a Primary department and a girls and boys Senior School. The Sunday School occurred at the same time as the morning Chapel service, with frequent afternoon sessions.
In minutes from a 1949 meeting, there was a mention of “the excellent tone of the School during the year which on the whole was an excellent one, the speaker was also grateful to officers & teachers for the support given him. The children were well behaved & attended good.”
Scholars were rewarded with an annual tea treat, which was a celebratory outing and parade to nearby gardens, such as Enys Garden, for entertainment and tea treat buns.
infant school
The School Room was used as the Infant School for Penryn C. P. School when the school premises on The Terrace were in need of more space. Records first date use from 1944 and the termination of tenancy from 31st July 1961.
The Headteacher was Ms Friendship. During the hire, improvements were made to the sanitation, resurfacing of adjoining plot of land hired for a playground and the kitchen used as a scullery for the service of meals for infants.
celebration festivals and suppers
The church hosted celebrations for occasions such as a children’s Harvest festival and Harvest Suppers upstairs on trestles in the School Room. This often included performances too, such as sketches.
Donations and gifts of fruit were given to places such as the Royal Cornwall Home for Children, Burdock House and Falmouth Hospital.
A Spring and Autumn Fair used to be hosted in the upstairs hall, with a range of stalls, from bric and brac, local produce from allotments to cakes.
holiday club and messy church
Every school holiday, every child in the community was invited to come for activities based on a Christian theme for a week-long club. There would be crafts, games, signing, videos and refreshments and also included Activity Days. This was joint-led by Sharon Bawden for 22 years, who began as a helper. The holiday club ended due to the pandemic.
Messy Church would be a group for families with different crafts, including an informal worship and a shared lunch. These were alternated in later years with St Gluvias Church.
POP-IN KNITTING GROUP
A knit and natter group, organised by Rose Webber and Jo Kennedy . They would knit blankets, teddies, jumpers and other items for charities, hospitals and abroad.
YOGA
There was regular yoga groups, held upstairs in the School Room.
penryn memory café
Penryn Memory Cafe was set up in September 2015 to provide support to people living with dementia in the local community, including carers and held downstairs in The School Room.
performances
Upstairs in the School Room, there is a sunny space with a stage at one end.
Productions and songs were performed by members of the Church, especially on occasions such as Easter. There were a number of pantomimes, including Goldilocks and nativity performances by Sunday School children. There was a drama group and a singing group, Penmeth singers, who used the stage.
GOVERMENT EVACUATION
Cornwall County Council obtained use of the School Room to accommodate school children to continue their education as part of the Government Evacuation Scheme from July 1940 until the Chapel was damaged during the war.
During this time, Anderson shelters were placed in the garden.
BIBLE STUDY
Led downstairs in the School Room, a regular group would meet to read verses, led by officers.
BOYS BRIGADE
Instigated by Captain Cock and Rev Cory in 1944, the Company began and was led by two nominated officers. The Company initially consisted of 3 Non-Comissioned Officers and 25 boys, which also led to a social group for young people connected to the church.
mabe ladies choir
Award-winning Mabe Ladies Choir, the oldest ladies choir in Cornwall, used the upstairs hall of The School Room as their rehearsal space for over 50 years until 2020.
The space was also regularly used for rehearsals by Liz Chivers, Mabe Ladies Choirs Musical Group, alongside her Ensemble group.
PENRYN 4TH GUIDES and BROWNIES
Started by Jo Kennedy and Jenny Aikenhead, the Penyrn Fourth Wesleyan Guides were held upstairs, with members earning Badges and many becoming Young Leaders. They hosted many talent shows and pantomimes from the stage.
ST JOHN’S AMBULANCE
The Badgers and Cadets, as well as Adult Groups, met weekly to learn skills and first aid until 2007, with members going on to become regular volunteers with the St John’s Ambulance. This was ran by Mr Coombes, and later Alison Williams MBE.
Cool Christian Cats
A group for teenagers, meeting once a fortnight. The sessions alternated between Christian-led and social-led. Activities included designing and painting a space in the School Room, barbecues on the beach and watching DVDs.
ART GROUPS
From April 2022, Art Centre Penryn held two weekly groups for relaxed creative activity. Meet & Make, for health and well-being and Tea, Cake & Art, a group for those aged over 65.